Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $6,195 per month in Saint John Island vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $8,291 per month in Saint John Island vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $10.4K per month in Saint John Island vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saint John Island costs about 554% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint John Island sits 351% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$70.5 $70.5

$2.08 ฿69.2

3287.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 $149

$19.64 ฿651

658.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.20 $15.20

$5.65 ฿188

169.03%

Cappuccino

$9.08 $9.08

$1.81 ฿59.9

401.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$0.71 ฿23.66

378.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$0.32 ฿10.48

981.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.24 ฿74.2

129.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$3.63 ฿121

91.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.96 ฿65.0

66.33%

White Bread (500g)

$8.07 $8.07

$1.50 ฿49.83

438.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

$1.34 ฿44.32

791.04%

Eggs

$12.09 $12.09

$2.26 ฿75.1

434.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.24 $32.24

$16.26 ฿539

98.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.75 $32.75

$2.95 ฿98.0

1010.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.22 $24.22

$9.94 ฿330

143.66%

Apples (1kg)

$22.01 $22.01

$2.57 ฿85.3

756.42%

Banana (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$1.06 ฿35.04

273.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$1.61 ฿53.5

993.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$12.22 $12.22

$1.52 ฿50.4

703.95%

Potato (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$1.27 ฿42.14

498.43%

Onion (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$1.07 ฿35.37

607.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.89 $4.89

$0.72 ฿23.89

579.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$0.51 ฿16.87

570.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.04 $9.04

$4.19 ฿139

115.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.77 $22.77

$17.87 ฿593

27.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.45 $4.45

$1.69 ฿56.2

163.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 $5.94

$2.84 ฿94.1

109.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.18 $7.18

$0.93 ฿30.70

672.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 $152

$53.9 ฿1,787

183.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$29.66 $29.66

$1.23 ฿40.95

2311.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.0 $50.0

$2.42 ฿80.4

1966.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.41 ฿46.84

11.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$48.4K $48.4K

$21.4K ฿711.3K

125.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$53.3K $53.3K

$27.3K ฿906.7K

95.07%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$298 $298

$63.7 ฿2,112

367.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$99.4 $99.4

$12.85 ฿426

673.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 $101

$20.22 ฿671

401.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$778 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 $81.3

$54.3 ฿1,801

49.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 $49.58

$25.45 ฿844

94.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

$94.3 ฿3,129

-8.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$73.4 ฿2,436

38.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,977 $3,977

$490 ฿16.2K

712.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$289 ฿9,596

1101.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,953 $4,953

$894 ฿29.6K

454.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,570 $4,570

$517 ฿17.1K

783.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,574 $4,574

$602 ฿20.0K

659.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

25.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saint John Island: September 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,977 in Saint John Island versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 660% higher in Saint John Island, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $149 in Saint John Island versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $986 vs $240 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Saint John Island vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John Island costs about 554% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $9,292 per month in Saint John Island and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 183% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 310% more in Saint John Island, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Saint John Island at $6,195. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint John Island it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $6,195 in Saint John Island. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint John Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.